Town Square

ISRAEL (A courageous Israeli Jew)

Original post made
by Jag Singh, Duveneck/St. Francis,
on Nov 12, 2006

Susan Nathan, an Israeli Jew was in Stanford University last week to discuss her widely acclaimed book, ‘Other Side of Israel’. After experiencing the sting of racism in England, Susan moved to Israel in the late 1990’s only to find enormous discrimination and persecution of Israeli Arabs living in Israel. Susan was the only Israeli Jew in the village of Israeli Arabs and what she experienced prompted her to launch a crusade to expose the ‘dark side’ of life for the disenfranchised Arabs. Susan drew a comparison of life for the privileged Israeli Jews living in the low density highlands with the high density overcrowded Arabs living in the lowlands in comparative filth and squalor. Sadly, all dark skinned Jews such as the Ethiopians suffer similar discrimination (even their blood was rejected as ‘tainted’). Susan gave many examples of blatant discrimination in education, housing and job opportunities. Susan speculated that this national policy was implemented to ‘encourage’ Arabs to leave Israel thereby mitigating the demographic time bomb when Israeli Jews may one day become a minority. Susan also confirmed the horrors of arbitrary home demolitions when bulldozers arrive at 5 am and the inhabitants are given 20 minutes to remove their all their possessions. Former IDF soldiers are now breaking the silence and voicing their opposition to the apartheid polices of their government (see www.breakingthesilence.org).

Comments

Like this comment

Posted by Boaz
a resident of Greater Miranda
on Nov 12, 2006 at 1:48 pm

Where did you cut and paste this story from Jagjit?
Also you may note that in the Stanford Daily story about her talk, she is quoted as saying that she is not their to bash Israel--too bad you missed that.
In order to get equal coverage they should bring in an Arab speaker to express his outrage over the treatment of Jews living in the Arab country--oh wait that would be impossible since almost all of the Jews living in the Arab countries have been forced to leave with their belongings confiscated.
By the way www.breakingthesilence.org is a non-existant link.
So when will you tell us why you hate Jews and Israel so much? It seems that Jews and Israel are always the victim of your venom and hatred yet you never speak out agaist Arab/Muslim oppression, terrorism and hateful policies.
[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff]

I wonder why Jag calls Ms. Nathan "courageous." Ms. Nathan is entitled to her opinions and she does not face prison or other punishment for her words and actions. In other words, Ms. Nathan lives in a democracy and is no more courageous than any one of us here -- like Jag -- that decide to voice an unpopular -- or foolish -- opinion.

Courageous would be a Muslim from the Palestinian Authority -- or from a neighboring Arab country -- that would publicly speak up in defense of Israel and against the Islamic ethos of suicide, terrorism, and anti-semitism. Unfortunately there have been only handful of such courageous people over decades, and most of them ended up murdered or in prison. That's a different king of courage, of which Jag has not the slightest inkling. Instead he can enjoy his anti-Semitic ravings in the safety of American democracy.

Posted by Not safe to say
a resident of another community
on Nov 13, 2006 at 10:43 pm

Everyone should try to see "Isreal's Next War" The extreme right Zionists call for the killing of all Palestanians. Also a major local,talk show host has said a number of times (not exact words) If only the world wasn't watching the Iserial army could take care of the Palestian problem (kill them all, exterminate them) Gaza strip is the size of NY citys central park and has several million people living in it. It is actually a concentration camp with guards controlling it's borders.

The "minor" difference being that each and every such statement by extremists is widely denounced by the Israeli mainstream, while Palestinian and Islamic extremism is never condemned by any Arab mainstream, and indeed it is generally embraced and praised by them. It is like judging the US by what Al Sharpton or David Duke say.

Instead, what "everyone should" is read the various Arab mainstream opinions of Israel. Few examples from just the last 3 weeks courtesy of MEMRI Web Link :

Palestinian Foreign Minister 3 weeks ago: "Israel is a vile entity that has been planted in our soil, and has no historical, religious or cultural legitimacy. We cannot normalize our relations with this entity. [...] [We say] no to recognizing Israel, regardless of the price we may have to pay [for our refusal]."

Official Hammas communique two weeks ago: "We will not relinquish [...] a single inch of stolen Palestinian land. Sooner or later, our people shall return to its land, to its cities and to its villages from which it was expelled..."

Editorial in Iranian daily newspaper 3 weeks ago: "The nation of Muslims must prepare for the great war, so as to completely wipe out the Zionist regime, and remove this cancerous growth."

It would be nice if any mainstream Arab voice would raise in condemnation. Unfortunately, none can be found. Speaking of "courage" ...

I'm really tired of all the Israel demonizing going on, and a certain user of this forum uses every opportunity he can! This "Israel's Next War" business sounds a lot like the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion."
Israel is a peacful democratic nation. Like all democracies, there are free people within its borders that express many opinions.
Its just sad to hear this non-stop conspiracy mongering. I guess history has shown that when people need to demonize, they will usually demonize the Jewish people. I'm a Jew, and I believe in Israel. I believe Israel, the only Jewish nation in the universe that we know of, has a right to exist and a right to self defense. I pray for the day when that need will no longer exist.